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FIRE ESCAPE. 1 y No. 335,108. J1 Patented Feb. A2, 1886.

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i Y FIRE ESGAPE. No. 335,108. Patented Feb'. 2, 1886.

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T, l i @im NIFL ll my f WITJV'EAS'SES 711;# ./lttornay NITED STATES PATEr trice.

WILLIAM BROWN, OF DUN CANNON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE- I HALF TO VILLIAM H. PENNEL, OF SAME PLACE.

FIREMESCAPL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,108, dated February 2, 1886.

Application filed June 15, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duncannon, in the county of Perry, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is aspeciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this improvement is a portable iire-escape having a series of intersliding tubes provided with pliable connections to each other and to a winding mechanism, by means of which the tubes are simultaneously adjustable for the purpose of extending the mechanism to building-exits of different ela vations, andgto provide the same with an adjustable base for giving the same an inclination toward, and thereby getting the carriage at its top closer to, the places of exit from the building; also, to provide the same with other useful and novel features of construction and operation hereinafter fully set forth, and speciiically claimed.

rlhe results mentioned are attained by the means illustrated in the drawings herewith filed asV part hereof, in which the same letters of reference denote the same parts in the different views.

Figurel isa side elevation,with parts broken away, representing a fire-escape embodying the features of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional view representing the lower part of one of the tubes and relative features of construction. Fig. 3 is a front elevation partly in section, and with parts removed. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the parts adjusted for transportation.

A is a supporting frame mounted at one end on truck-wheels A, secured to the frame A by ordinary metal bearings, a, and at the opposite end on casters A, having bearingplates a', affixed to the frame A `by screws or bolts, substantially as shown.

B is an adjustable base for the mechanism, the end frame-pieces of which are provided with inclinations, b.

The frames B and A are pivotally connected by hinges b b2, (shown in Fig. 3,) for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

G G are metal standards secured to the frame Serial N o. 168, 766. (No model.)

B by lateral extensions g and bolts gl', for supporting the intersliding tubes and relative parts.

C is the outer tube, articulated to the standards G G by means of trunnions c, affixed thereto substantially in the manner shown. The upper end of the tube C is provided with a flanged ring, G3, secured thereto by pins or screws, c, for the purpose of forming a bearing 'and guide for the tube D.

C are standards suitably secured to the guide-rings C3, for supporting rollers C2.

Suitably secured to the lower end of the tube C is a disk, C5, provided with a perforation, c, and a valve, O4, articulated thereto, substantially as shown at 0.

Affxed to the lower end of the tube D is a disk, D5, which fits snugly the tube C, and

`forms the means of providing the lower end of the tube D with packing d, for the purpose of holding the same in proper relative position with the tube C.

Secured to the disk D5, through the packing d, are eyebolts, as shown at d, Fig. l, which form reliable connections for an operating rope or chain, d, which passes through au opening in the guide-ring C3 over the roller O2, and is provided at its outer end with a weight,

D4, for a purpose hereinafter set forth, and an operating chain or rope, d, which passes through lrhe guide-ring C3 over the roller C2, and connects with the winding mechanism, to be presently described. f

The lower end of the tube 'E is Aprovided with guide-disk, packing, and eyebolts, the same as the tube D,and is connected by means of ropes or chains c5 over rollers D3, supported by standards D2 on flanged guide-ring D', affixed to tube D by screws or pins d4, with eyebolts C4, on guide-ring G3, affixed to tube G. Y

rIhe lowerend of the tube F is provided with guide-disk, packing, and eyebolts, the same as tubes D and E, as shown atfffz, and is connected by means of operating chains or ropes e through guide-ring E, affixed to tube E, over rollers E3, supportedV by standards E2, with eyebolts c aiiixed to guide-ring D of the tube D.

H is a disk-plate fixed to the tube F by an IOO integral socket, h, and secured by bolts or screws h to the iioor I of a circular carriage, J, provided with acentral vertical rod, J', for passengers lto grasp for the purpose of steadying themselves during the descent ofthe carriage.

K is a gear-wheel affixed toa windingdrum, K2, having bearings K in the standards G G.

L is a shaft having bearingsl Z3 in the standards G G.

K5 is a pinion-wheelon the shaft L, and arranged to mesh with the gear-wheel K.

K3 is a ratchet-wheel on the shaft L, in position to be engaged by a pawl, K, aflixed to standard G and actuated by a spring, k, also affixed to standard G.

L is a friction-pulley affixed to an extension of the shaft-bearing Z.

L4 is an operating-crank affixed to an extension of the shaft-bearing Z3.

L:3 is a lever pivoted to the standard G, as shown at Z', and provided with a frictionbearing, Z3.

L3 is a belt connecting the friction-pulley L Withthe friction-bearing Z3 on the lever L3.

B3 is an adj listing-screw affixed to the frame B by means of a recessed plate, B4, and arranged to engage with a nut, b3, affixed to the frame A by flanged plate b, as shown in Fig.l.

T is a staircase, provided at each side with balusters T and hinged to the supporting-base B, as shown at T3.

V is a rod pivotally affixed to the staircase T, as shown at c, and provided at its lower end with a beveled lateral extension, v, for engaging with correspondingly-sized serrations of a plate, B, affixed to the base B, and thereby propping the staircase T in the position shown in Fig. l.

S is a lever pivoted to a boss on the tube C, as shown at s, and provided at its lower end with an enlargement, S, for covering or uncovering a perforation, s2, in a boss, s', of the tube C.

P is a rod, provided at its lower end with a weight, P, and at its upper end with an eye, p, which iits over an extension of the corresponding trunnion-bearing, c, in which position yit is secured by a screw, p.

B is a latch-bolt having an operating-handle, r', and secured to the tube C by eyes r r in position to engage with a series of perforations in a plate, B3, suitably secured to the adjustable frame B, for a purpose set forth in the explanation of the operation of the mechanism.

By means of the screw B3 the corresponding side of the frame B may be dra-wn toward the ,frame A, and the tubes C D E F and carriage J inclined toward the places of exit from the building, and entrance of the carriage thus made secure.

By operating the crank L4, the Windingdrum K2 will be put in motion through the shaftL, pinion K3, and gear-Wheel K3, when the tubes D E F will be put in simumultaneous motion by means of their chain or rope connections d, c3, and e', and the motion of the parts WillY be assisted by the gravity of the weight D4, affixed to the rope or chain d, connected over the roller C2 to the lower part of the tube D, and the parts may thus be adjusted to bring the carriage in position for safe entrance at different elevations, as occasion may require. Should the supportingframe A be given an inclination longitudinally from unevenness in the ground, the Weighted rod P will automatically take a perpendicular position, and thus furnish a guide for the corresponding adjustment of tubes,

which may be secured by vinserting the latchbolt B in an appropriate perforation of the plate B3. As the tubes ascend, the valve C* will allow the entrance of air into the tube C, which, with the weight D, will retard the descent of the tubes when the winding mechanism is reversed. When necessary, such descent may be additionally retarded by means of the lever L3, connected to the friction-pulley L through the belt L2.

By suitable adjustment of the lever S the airmay be allowed to escape from the tube C, and the degree of resistance to the descent of the parts thus partially or entirely abrogated. The pawl K4 will engage with the ratchet K3 on the shaft L, and secure the relative adjustment of the tubes when they are in vertical position for use, as shown in Fig. l, or in horizontal adjustment suitable for transportation of the mechanism, as shown in Fig. 4.

The mechanism may be adapted for use by municipal re departments by substituting the usual running-gear for the truck-Wheels and casters shown, which would be sufficient means for transporting the mechanism when intended forfactories or other buildings in isolated positions.

The staircase when in the position shown in Fig. 1 will furnish convenient descent from the carriage J to the ground after the carriage has been lowered.

By adjusting the parts as shown in Fig. 4 the mechanism will be putin convenient shape for rapid transportation, and the pawl K4 will secure the horizontal position of the tubes by `engaging with the ratchet K3 on the shaft L.

Having explained the construction and operation of my improvement, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

IOO

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operate as described, in combination with the rated plate B2, all arranged to operate as and Winding mechanism, as and for the purpose for the purpose set forth. 1o r set forth. In testimony whereof I aihx my signature 4E. The combination of the transportingin presence of two Witnesses. 5 frame A, base B, pivoted thereto, as shown, WILLTAM BROWN.

the adjustable staircase, screw Bs, standards Witnesses: G G', the Winding mechanism, intersliding CEAS. D. DAVIS, tubes, ropes d c5 e', latch-bolt R, and perfo- WILLIAM H. GAss. 

